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Belgian Prime Miinister Herman Van Rompuy, who is to become the first permanent EU President.
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BRUSSELS (EJP)---European Socialist leaders, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, decided Thursday to propose the candicacy of British European Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton as future EU Foreign Minister.
This decision paved the way for the 27 EU leaders to select Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the first permanent EU President.
This happened during a dinner Thursday night in Brussels where the leaders met informally.
Van Rompuy, a 62-year-old Flemish Christian-Democrat, is generally considered as a ''friend'', Kouky Frohmann, head of the Forum of Jewish Organizations in Antwerp told EJP.
''I am proud that a Belgian has been chosen to lead Europe,'' she added.
During a recent event at a Jewish community center in Brussels, Van Rompuy said: ''Europe owns a lot to the Jewish people for its scientific, philosophical and cultural contribution.''